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NEWS ENGLISH

robert
In NEWS ENGLISH

Getting ready

Copyright: Swedish Lapland

It’s been a busy few days here at Jockfall. From Feb. 25th to 28th 13 athletes took part in our training course, powered by Trollkraft Adventure. As always, many lessons were learnt and all participtants now have a lot more confidence to face the challenges ahead. Due to the rather warm temperatures, one of the main challenges will be to stay dry …

Towards the end of the training course more athletes had started to arrive. We dealt with paperwork, handed out rental kit, had our briefing this morning, followed by the Laplandprayer, organised by Race Chaplain Pat Cooke-Rogers and, finally, our big dinner.

Tomorrow at 08:00am we will load everyone’s sleds and head all down to Överkalix. From 09:00am the “Lapland Arctic Arena” will open – which means there will be snacks, hot drinks and later on also a Kid’s Race. Anyone who is interested in this, please just visit whenever you want. The Arena will close at noon. We will start our 20 and 50 km races at 09:30am. Then, right after, the athletes in the 185 and 500 km races will head out.

For updates during the race we will mainly use our facebook and instagram pages. Also, if you would like to follow the progress of our athletes, please check out the tracking page (linked on our landing page).

robert
In NEWS ENGLISH

The future is Bright

It is with great pleasure that I announce today that the new title sponsor of the Lapland Arctic Ultra is the Swedish brand Bright Equipment. Bright Equipment offers premium clothing and accessories to both consumers and businesses that value quality and exceptional service. Although a relatively young brand, the team behind the brand has over 30 years of experience in producing high-quality apparel. For businesses, they provide customized printing, embroidery, and smart gift card solutions, whether customers purchase directly or through a carefully selected network of agents. What makes this partnership even more special is that Bright EQ is based in Luleå, just like the Lapland Arctic Ultra, both of which call Norrbotten home.

Another reason this collaboration is particularly exciting is Bright Equipment’s strong commitment to sustainability. They partner with CleanSea, an organization that won the “Änglamarkspriset” in 2022 for its efforts to clean Sweden’s west coast of international plastic waste. For every kilogram of products purchased by Bright Equipment customers, they donate funds to CleanSea to remove an equivalent amount of plastic waste and ensure its proper disposal.

Also, we share common goals with Bright Equipment. The brand strives to be a fair, premium choice, guided by principles of “down-to-earth” practicality and “common sense.” The same could be said for the Lapland Arctic Ultra, as we too aim to provide a premium event while staying true to values of simplicity and reason.

Kristoffer Wennström, International Sales Manager at Bright Equipment, shares, “We’re really excited to partner with the Lapland Arctic Ultra. As a northern brand, we’ve experienced significant growth in recent years, so it’s fantastic to support such an iconic outdoor adventure in our home region. This partnership will help us further build the Bright Equipment brand not only in Sweden but also internationally.”

While Bright Equipment’s product range may not be as extensive as some larger brands, their focus on quality over quantity is what sets them apart. Their standout products are designed to withstand the harsh northern winter, and thanks to the way they operate, we’re thrilled to soon offer some exclusive race merchandise for athletes and fans alike. Stay tuned for more details!

The entire Lapland Arctic Ultra team is excited about this new partnership, and we can’t wait to share more about Bright Equipment and their products with you in the coming weeks and months.

Finally, I’d like to take this opportunity to extend a heartfelt “Thank You” to Montane, the British brand that was our title sponsor for the first three editions of the Lapland Arctic Ultra. It has been a pleasure working together, and we will continue our connection with Montane through their ongoing sponsorship of the Yukon Arctic Ultra.”

robert
In NEWS ENGLISH

Details for training course 2025 confirmed

Copyright: Follow The Sun Photography

Details for the official Lapland Arctic Ultra 2025 training course are now confirmed.

I want to take this opportunity to say a very big Thank You to Per Johansson from Rimfrost Adventures who held the course the last three years. He always did a great job – making the course part of the overall adventure and getting excellent feedback from our athletes. Due to other committments next winter Per had early on communicated that he would not be able to organise the course next winter.

The really good news is that our new course organiser is Olov Jonsson from Trollkraft Adventures. Olov has been part of Per’s team for the past three courses. So, he knows exactly what to expect and how best to prepare the participants. Like Per, Olov is from the region which helps in preparations and which means that the participants get a coach who is very familiar with what the nature in a Norbotten winter can throw at them.

The information about the training course is now updated in the respective section on this website. As always, anyone wanting to book the course, please get in touch directly with the organiser, i.e. email Olov at info@trollkraft.se.

For all of you not familiar with our training course, it is mandatory for anyone who wants to enter the Lapland Arctic Ultra but has no previous experience with cold weather adventures. Athletes can do the course immediately before the race or they can do it one winter and then come back to do the race a year later. The course is also open to people who do not want to do our race!

robert
In NEWS ENGLISH

Are you looking for the perfect gaiters?

INSTAgaiters getting some action in the winter

Our sponsor Kahtoola makes really good spikes for your shoes, to give you grip on ice and snow. They also manufacture some incredibly light waterproof gaiters, their LEVAgaiters. However, this post is about the ultra light and very functional INSTAgaiters. These are intended for use during spring, summer and fall – when you are out on a trail and there is no snow on the ground. They actually do keep snow out of your shoes in winter, too! We tried it (see main image of this post).

Now Kahtoola released a fun video, showing us all why gaiters are a great idea during the warmer months, too:

robert
In NEWS ENGLISH

Bright Equipment Lapland Arctic Ultra 2025 starts March 2nd

Copyright: Jonas Palsson

The Brigth Equipment Lapland Arctic Ultra 2025 start date is confirmed:

We will begin our adventure on March 2nd!

For details on entry fees and entry deadlines, please have a look in our “Application” section. As always, you can save some significant money if you sign up early (i.e. by May 31st, 24). Anybody interested in signing up, please send an email to info[a]thegreatoutdoors.de.

If you are new to the MLAU and are looking into timing/travel, please note that athletes without prior cold weather experience need to participate in a 4-day training course. If you are in doubt about your qualification or have any other questions, please do not hesitate to ask.

 

robert
In NEWS ENGLISH

Photo gallery by Jonas Palsson

Copyright: Jonas Palsson

This year we had the talented Jonas Palsson with us as our official race photographer. Being a photographer for a race like the Montane Lapland Arctic Ultra is not an easy task. You are out there no matter how cold it is. Initially, you have everyone very close together and all of a sudden the athletes are spread out over more than 100 km. Day and night you spend looking for the right places and the right moment, to catch the scenes you are looking for. Jonas did a great job with all of it. Of course it helps that he spends most of his time outdoors, is a qualified guide, knows the Heart of Lapland and rides a snowmobile himself. In addition, he has got that creativity we admire with good photographers. Now all of his photos are uploaded in our gallery. Enjoy (and please respect the copyright)!

robert
In NEWS ENGLISH

Last 500 km athlete reaches finish line

Copyright: Callum Jolliffe

All remaining athletes in the 500 km race have reached the finish line. That’s a total of 15 finishers out of 19 athletes who started. In a race like this, non-stop, in the winter and over that kind of a distance – that is an extremely good ratio. Especially, considering how soft the trails were on the first two days. It was a real pleasure seeing all back in Överkalix. After Florian, Mathieu, Thierry, Peter and Tommy, we were able to welcome:

Pascal Bleys (Belgium)
Anim Swart (Canada)
Kasper Johansen (Denmark)
Josephine Bush (England)
Enrique Trull Maravilla (Spain)
Paul Fosh (England)
Pat Cooke-Rogers (England)
Phil Cowell (England)
Alla Bova (USA)
Thanh Vu (Vietnam)

They are all extraordinary athletes and it was so much fun to be part of their adventure here in Swedish Lapland. We have many posts in our Social Media channels about how it all went. More is still to come. Also, soon I will have a full photo gallery here on our website, in case you do not like or use facebook and/or Instagram.

A big thank you to all athletes in all distances and disciplines – finishers or not. Thank you to the amazing crew, Sam, Callum, Sophie, Shannon, Catherine, Kate, Kelly, Thomas, our snowmobile guides Henrik, Daniel, Roland, Arnold, Robin and Jonas, our race photographer Jonas Palsson, checkpoints/checkpoint hosts Ann-Sofi, Hans and Robin from Jockfall, Grand Arctic Resort Överkalix, Lansjärv Folkets Hus, Leipojärvi Snowmobile Club team Eva, Jan, Leif and all the others, Nattavaara Hembygdsförening, Sveaskog, transfer drivers Anne and Hakan, Niclas and Linnea and all others who got the Lapland Arena project off the ground, Jockfall, Gällivare and Överkalix snowmobile clubs, and, again, Robin, Daniel and Henrik who also did a lot of trail grooming and marking, our sponsors Montane, Kahtoola, Racelite, Jockfall Fishing & Activities, Grand Arctic Resort Överkalix, SOTO, Wrightsock, Fjällcom, Sveaskog, Firepot, innova, Reko, Acapulka, Swedish Lapland, Gällivare Kommun and Överkalix Kommun.

robert
In NEWS ENGLISH

Florian Reiterberger wins 500 km distance

Copyright: Callum Jolliffe

At the beginning of the Montane Lapland Arctic Ultra 2024, German biker Florian Reiterberger was struggling. The trails were soft and he was forced to push his bike over long distance. Florian had already won the MLAU 500 km in 2022. This time, it looked like he may not finish at all. However, as the temperatures dropped and the surface got more solid, Florian was able to gain speed. Add to that his ability to go for days with very short breaks, it meant he soon was in the lead. And the Bavarian kept that lead until the end, arriving in Överkalix March 8th at 11:47. He looked a bit more tired than normal – mostly because those first couple of days took a lot of strength out of him. Also, he was not feeling 100% to begin with. Hard to imagine what crazy fast time he could do feeling perfect and having perfect trails … Now Florian is recovering and enjoying some free time in Överkalix, joining us whenever he can to welcome other finishers. As a matter of fact, when Peter Felten reached the finish line today, Florian was on the phone, giving Pat Cooke-Rogers advice on how to fix a problem with her bike on her way to Nattavaara. Amongst other things, Florian runs a bike shop (www.radlgarage-eggstaett.de). If you plan on doing a fatbike race in winter and want to talk to an expert, Florian Reiterberger is your man!

At 08:17 today (March 9th), our next two 500 km athletes reached Överkalix. Mathieu Bonnier and Thierry Corbarieu crossed the finish line togehter. Mathieu on skis and Thierry on foot. Both are from France and have a lot of experience. Mathieu was very happy about how it went for him and his skis. However, he had a rough day, not feeling great and having major back pain. So, it was good that he did not have to go back out. Thierry looked 100% fine. He still had enough strength in him to lift his pulk over his head – for that special finishing photo. They are now also resting here in Överkalix.

Next up, March 9th at 15:17, was Peter Felten, another fatbiker from Germany. Like Florian and all others on bike or foot, he had a tough couple of days at the beginning. But he found his rhythm and once the trails were hard, he had no more problems.

Last but not least, Taiwanese runner Tommy Chen arrived. Like Florian, Mathieu, Thierry and Peter, he is a veteran of our Montane Yukon Arctic Ultra race. Coming here with this kind of experience is of course incredibly valuable. Tommy is an elite marathon runner who also loves extreme races. He just goes and goes, always very happy when we see him and grateful for the experience, even if it involves some occasional suffering. Tommy came in March 9th at 17:05.

Congratulations to you all!

Copyright: Callum Jolliffe

robert
In NEWS ENGLISH

Guy Belchier wins 185 km race

Copyright: John Summerton

Guy Belchier (UK), our first place winner in the 2024 Montane Lapland Arctic Ultra 185km distance, arrived at the finish line March 5th at 07:55 this morning.

Looking fresh, accomplished, and proud, Guy crossed the finish line next to the Grand Arctic Resort in Överkalix, the same spot from which he set off less than two days ago.

Well done for an incredibly well paced race in some very challenging conditions!

Congratulations also to all other finishers. Rank 2 went to Steve Bentley (UK) who reached Överkalix at 13:28 and 3rd place is Mark Frantzen (Germany) who came in at 20:02. Ludovic Seuillot (France) who was the fastest skier in the 185km came in before Mark but received a 6 hour time penalty for going the wrong way and requiring our assistance to be put back on track.

For the full results, please check out our results table.

robert
In NEWS ENGLISH

Early morning update from Day 2

Copyright: Jonas Palsson

Before anything else, our updates on instagram and facebook are more frequent. So, please check out our channels there.

An early morning update from our Race Headquarter at Jockfall:

It is 4am here and very quiet now. We had a busy afternoon yesterday, both at our checkpoints here in Jockfall and Polar Circle Cabin #1 but also out on the trail. Every day our snowmobile guides do one more check before the front runners. Today they had to discover that the unseasonably warm temperatures caused a dangerous situation on some of the lakes ahead of us. So, the decision was made to find a way around these problem areas. Time for some serious re-marking … And we had to make sure all athletes understand what is going on because the GPS track they have – if they use it to check their position – would at some point tell them they are not on the trail, even though they are following the markers. They are all briefed that the markers are what matters but it’s still a confusing situation. We were able to tell the athletes in time, especially the ones in the lead who were closest to the problem.

Instead of lakes with overflow, a section of the trail leading to Överkalix further south, is now on a ploughed backcountry road. The runners and bikers will LOVE that. Of course that stretch won’t last forever and they will soon enough face softer trails again.
Overall, we are now seeing more scratches – just that it’s not so much because of the cold and the distance. Instead it’s soft trail and the distance. Athletes who decided not to continue are Jens Klinkhammer (Germany), Thomas Werner (Germany), Vedangi Kulkarni (India), Daniel Gruber (Germany) and Stefan Zahlten (Germany). Each had different reasons. They are all resting and recovering.

A group of athletes are still here in Jockfall. Everyone else is on their way or resting further south, on the way to Överkalix.
Our 185 km finish line is ready for Guy Belchier (UK) who should rank first in this distance if nothing unexpected happens. Currently leading in the 500 km is German biker Florian Reiterberger, with a number of participants on his heel.

It’s still not very cold but it does feel a bit colder tonight. At least that will help “cool down the engines” as the athletes work their way along the trails. Hopefully, it’s also enough to firm up the surface at least a little bit.